The Bakaleinikoff Tablecloth
This tablecloth, framed and hanging in the front room of the Music Department at CLP – Main, was autographed by over 100 visiting classical musicians, composers, and conductors who performed in Pittsburgh from 1946 to 1953, when Vladimir Bakaleinikoff was a musical director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The signers were guests of the Bakaleinikoffs. Each signature was embroidered by Mrs. Julia Bakaleinikoff.
Vladimir Bakaleinikoff was born in Moscow in 1885. The son of a noted clarinetist, he studied both violin and piano as a child and at the age of 9 won a scholarship to the Moscow Conservatory. After a youthful career as a soloist and conductor in Russia, Dr. Bakaleinikoff was appointed professor at the Moscow Conservatory and musical director of the Moscow Art Theater, where he met and married singer Julia Fatova.
They came to the United States in 1925. Impressed with Bakaleinikoff, Fritz Reiner, then conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, hired him as assistant conductor. He also played viola in the orchestra. By 1934 he had become well-known across the country; the University of Chicago conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Music degree. He left Cincinnati in 1937 after being wooed to Hollywood to compose for the movies where two of his brothers, Constantin and Mischa held music directorships in the studios.
In 1939, he accepted a call from Fritz Reiner, then conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony, to come to Pittsburgh to be his associate conductor. They moved to Pittsburgh, followed immediately by his young student Lorin Maazel, and quickly became the center of an active musical community. Between Reiner’s departure from Pittsburgh in 1948 and the arrival of his successor William Steinberg in 1952, Bakaleinikoff served as musical director of the Orchestra. Affectionately known as “Bak,” he possessed a delightful sense of humor and loved to tell stories.
The tablecloth was donated to the Music Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh by Charles Rosenbloom. He was a noted philanthropist, a Life Trustee of Carnegie Institute, a serious art collector, and a Vice President of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society.
For further information about the tablecloth, contact the Music Department.
Phone: 412.622.3114
E-mail: musicdept@carnegielibrary.org
Name: Adler, Larry, harmonica player
Comment: To Julia, sincerely
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 7, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Anderson, Marian, contralto
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 10, 1948 – May Beegle Concerts
Name: Arrau, Claudio, pianist
Date: 1947
Comment: A Julia con sincera simpatia
Performed in Pittsburgh: Oct. 27, 1946, Dec. 27, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Babin, Victor, duo pianist (Vronsky)
Comment: To my unforgettable Bak and Julia, With love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 7, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Bakalienikoff, Constantin (Costia), composer/conductor, brother of Vladimir
Date: 1947
Comment: Me Too 20 years
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Bakalienikoff, Mischa, composer/conductor, brother of Vladimir
Comment: With Love
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Bakaleinikoff, Vladimir, PSO Associate Conductor
Comment: To my Julia, whom I know and love more than 25 years December 16, 1921-1946
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1948-1952
Name: Bampton, Rose, soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: March 24, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Barber, Samuel, composer
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A (Oct. 29, 1952 his “Reincarnation” by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Name: Bernstein, Leonard, composer/conductor
Comment: A La Plus Belle Femme de Pittsburgh
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan/Feb, 1949; Jan, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Bible, Francis, mezzo-soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 22, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Borge, Victor, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb. 20, 1948, Nov. 16, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Brailowsky, A., pianist
Date: Jan. 7, 1951
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 5, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Brown, Anne, soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 7, 1947, Apr. 15, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Bybell, Patricia
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Cantelli, Guido, conductor
Date: 1951
Comment: a Julia insuperabila!
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb/Mar 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Casadesus, Gaby, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 1947, Dec. 1949, Dec. 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Casadesus, Robert, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 1949, Dec. 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Chavez, Carlos, composer/conductor
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 27, 1946 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Cotlow, Marilyn, soprano
Comment: “L Enfant et les Sortilege”
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950, Apr. 6, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Elman, Mischa, violinist
Date: Dec. 11, 1949
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 12, 1949 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Enesco, George, violinst/composer
Date: 1949
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 8, 1949 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: George, Florence, soprano
Comment: With best wishes to you and your charming talented husband
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 6, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Gordon, Marjorie, soprano
Comment: With grateful affection
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Grainger, Percy, composer/pianist
Date: Feb. 1948
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb. 10, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Gramm, Donald, bass-baritone
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Gretchaninoff, A., composer
Date: 1948
Comment: To Julia Bakaleinikoff
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 2, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (his Symphony #5)
Name: Heckman, Winifred, mezzo-soprano
Comment: The Cat *
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Heifetz, Jascha, violinist
Date: 1946
Comment: For Julia, L & K
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 26, 1946 – May Beegle (and others)
Name: Hilsberg, Alexander, violinist/conductor
Comment: For “Maki”
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb. – Mar. 1949 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Horowitz, V., pianist
Date: 1946
Comment: For Julia with love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb. 14, 1948 – May Beegle; March 25-27, 1949 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (and others)
Name: Hougham, Helen
Date: April 8 1951
Comment: Your L’enfant loves you *
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Johansen, Roy, composer/conductor
Date: 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Kaldenberg, Keith
Date: 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Kapell, William, pianist
Comment: Much love from your friend
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1946, 1948, 1951, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Karpilowsky, Darnya
Comment: Julia Darling, love and kisses
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Kennedy, Steven, baritone
Comment: “The Clock and Cat” *
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Kodály, Zoltán, composer
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 15, 1946 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Koshetz, Marina, soprano
Date: 1950
Comment: To my beloved Lucinka with devotion
Performed in Pittsburgh: March 31, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Kostelanetz, Andre, conductor
Comment: Cordial greetings
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 12, 1950 (Benefit Concert, Shadyside Hospital)
Name: Koussivitsky, Serge, conductor
Comment: With Love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 1946, Dec. 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Kreisler, Fritz, violinist
Comment: For Julia with everlasting love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 1946, Dec. 1946, Jan. 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Kubelik, Rafael, violinist/conductor
Date: 11 xii 1949
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 9, 1949 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Laderoute, Joseph Victor, tenor
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 1950, Dec. 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Lanza, Mario, tenor
Date: 3/5/51
Comment: Hello Julia, always from…
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 6, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Legalle, Bernardo
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Leinsdorf, Erich, conductor
Comment: To Julia
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 17 & 23, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Levant, Oscar, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 9, 1946, Apr. 1947, Jan. 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Lipkin, Seymour, pianist
Date: 1948
Comment: To the Bakaleinikoffs, Love from…
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec 10, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Loder, John, actor
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Lopatnikoff, Nicolai, composer
Comment: To the very dear Bakaleinikoffs after a wonderful dinner
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A (several works performed by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Name: Los Angeles, Victoria de, soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 21, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Luboshutz, Pierre, duo-pianist (Nemenoff)
Comment: To our beloved Bakaleinikoffs with deep affection from….
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 22, 1947 – May Beegle Series
Name: Maazel, Lorin, conductor/violinist
Comment: For my darling Julia with love 1938-1946 Always your Poopy!
Performed in Pittsburgh: First time Jan. 1943 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Mar. 19, 1946, Mar. 31, 1951. Many other appearances.
Name: MacDonald, Jeanette, soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Oct. 30, 1945 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Apr. 29, 1950 – May Beegle Series
Name: Malcuzynski, Witold, pianist
Comment: To Mme. Bakaleinikoff with my heartiest wishes
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 20, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Martini, Nino, tenor
Date: 1946
Comment: To Julia Bakaleinikoff with best wishes
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 5, 1946, Dec. 11, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Melton, James, tenor
Comment: To Julia
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 16, 1946 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Oct. 1946, Feb. 1950 – May Beegle
Name: Menotti, Gian Carlo, composer
Date: 1951
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Menuhin, Yehudi, violinist
Date: 1952
Comment: To Julia, my Gypsy friend
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 18, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Merrill, Robert, baritone
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 30, 1948, Dec. 9, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Merriman, Nan, mezzo-soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh:Nov. 11, 1949, Dec. 18, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Milstein, Nathan, violinist
Comment: To Julia, from…
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 16, 1953 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Munsel, Patrice, soprano
Comment: To Julia, affectionately
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 18, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Nemenoff, Genia, duo-pianist (Luboshutz)
Comment: (see Luboshutz)
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 22, 1947 – May Beegle Series
Name: Neveu, Ginette, violinist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 19, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Norville, Hubert
Comment: “Frog” *
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Ormandy, Eugene, conductor
Date: 1946
Performed in Pittsburgh with Philadelphia Orchestra: Nov. 1946, Feb. 1949, Feb. 1950
Name: Paray, Paul, conductor
Comment: Grâce à Julia et cotta nappe unique je passerai peut-etre à la postérité
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 – numerous times with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Parisot, Aldo, principal cellist, PSO
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1948-1950
Name: Peerce, Jan, tenor
Date: 1951
Performed in Pittsburgh: Feb. 21, 1952
Name: Pelletier, Wilfred, conductor
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Peters, Roberta, soprano
Date: 1951
Comment: To Julia, All love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Oct. 1951, Dec. 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Piatigorsky, Gregor, cellist
Date: 1946
Comment: To my very much loved “Pupsik”
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1946, Jan. 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Pinza, Ezio, bass
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 5, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Previtali, Fernando, conductor
Date: 1952
Comment: Alla simpatica Signorna Guilia
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Read, Gardner, composer
Date: 1946
Comment: To Julia with my love
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A (several works performed by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Name: Reiner, Fritz, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Conductor
Comment: For Julia with everlasting love
Performed in Pittsburgh: 1938-1948
Name: Renardy, Ossy, violinist
Date: April 6, 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 4, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Rodzinski, Artur, conductor
Date: 1948
Performed in Pittsburgh: Oct – Nov, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Rogers, Buddy, band leader
Date: 1951
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Rubenstein, Arthur, pianist
Date: 1947
Comment: With respect and admiration
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 14, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Sabata, Victor de, conductor
Date: Dicembre 1948
Comment: a Giulia e Bak con tanto affeto!
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 3, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Santo, Tusa, contralto
Comment: “Maman”
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Schnabel, Artur, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 14, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Serkin, Rudolf, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: numerous Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Shelby, Lillian
Date: 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Singher, Martial, composer
Comment: en souvenir
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 24, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Spivakovsky, Tossy, violinist
Date: 1951
Comment: Very cordially
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 15, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Steinberg, William, conductor
Date: 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 4 – 13, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra “guest conductor”
Name: Stern, Isaac, violinist
Date: 1946
Comment: For Mme. Bakaleinikoff
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 6, 1946 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Stevens, Risë, mezzo-soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 11, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Stokowski, Leopold, conductor
Performed in Pittsburgh: numerous times with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Jan 12-21, 1951 Guest Conductor
Name: Stoloff, Morris
Comment: Julia I love you
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Stravinsky, I., composer
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Swarthout, Gladys, mezzo-soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 11, 1948 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Szenkar, Eugen, conductor
Date: dicembre 1950
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 1-3, 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Szigeti, Joseph, violinist
Comment: To Julia, from her friend…
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 1946, Nov. 1950 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Templeton, Alec, pianist
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 1946 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Dec. 1947 – May Beegle
Name: Thaviu, Samuel, concert master, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Date: 1946
Comment: To my dear Julia with love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 24, 1946
Name: Thomas, John Charles, baritone
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 25, 1947 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Villa-Lobos, Heitor, composer
Performed in Pittsburgh: Jan. 9, 1953 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Vronsky, Vitya, duo pianist (Babin)
Comment: To my unforgettable Bak and Julia With love
Performed in Pittsburgh: Dec. 7, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Warfield, William, baritone
Comment: To Julia Bakaleinikoff with sincere regards
Performed in Pittsburgh: Mar. 28, 1952 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Warren, Elinor, pianist/composer
Date: 1952
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Weissenberg, Alexis, pianist
Comment: To a fine musician from a cute pianist wishing a “smart” future
Performed in Pittsburgh: N/A
Name: Worthington, Floyd, baritone
Comment: “Armchair” *
Performed in Pittsburgh: Nov. 24, 1950, Apr. 6, 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Name: Yeend, Frances, soprano
Performed in Pittsburgh: Apr. 1947, Dec. 1950, Dec. 1951 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
* some roles in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges – Nov. 24-26, 1950